Senior Facility Planned at Site of Former Knickerbocker Yacht Club

It's been almost 2 years since the members of the Knickerbocker Yacht Club voted to close the club and sell the property. The club was founded in 1874, but declining membership and overhead costs left them no choice but to shut down.


[Photo above is the Knickerbocker Yacht Club when it was in College Point, NY-photographer unknown]

After holding several meetings, the new owners, Cord Meyer Development, decided to seek approval from the Town of North Hempstead for an independent living facility for seniors 55 and over on the site of the former Yacht Club. Original plans for a possible hotel and retailers were scrapped because of concerns about traffic and waterfront access. Cord Meyer has attempted to create a design that will reduce the impact on traffic and allow access to the waterfront for the public.

[Photos below are from the KYC website]

Proposed Design

The site is at 433 Main Street, which will afford great views and will be convenient to basic services such as parks, the library, health care, shopping, and restaurants. The developers hope to create a design that is visually integrated into the surroundings and meets certain environmental standards. The plans include many "green" features such as underground parking, Energy Star appliances, and a photovoltaic energy system on the roof.

The building design itself has a nautical feel, preserving the history and character of the original Knickerbocker Yacht Club. Manhasset Bay will still be visible from Main Street, and there will be walkways for the public to access the waterfront. 35 condominium units are planned and boat slips and moorings will be provided.

The developers at Cord Meyer hope to benefit the community by filling a need for 55 and over housing, now that the increasing population of baby boomers are down-sizing, but hoping to stay in the area. The project will also create about 100 construction jobs over an 18-month to 2-year time frame.


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Five Reasons to Use a Real Estate Professional to Sell Your Home

Unrepresented sellers, affectionately known as FSBOs (For Sale By Owners), give many reasons for not choosing to list their homes with a real estate professional. They may have had a bad experience with an agent, or they may just want to save on the commission. Many show up on Craigslist with notations that no brokers should ever call them; in other words, they exclude the one group of people whose job it is to match up buyers and sellers. Well, many people dislike dentists, but when they have a toothache....

The National Association of Realtors reports that FSBOs accounted for only 9% of home sales in 2010. And the typical FSBO home sold for about 30% less than agent-assisted home sales. Many FSBOs that I speak to tell me that they've taken their homes off the market because they have discovered that selling a home is time-consuming and difficult. Usually, these sellers will list their homes with an agent, after their homes have continued to come down in value, and after putting off for months the plans the sellers had for downsizing, retiring, moving, etc.

Here are five reason for using a real estate professional to list your home from the start:

1. Pricing

Overpricing a home is a big mistake that many sellers make. In today's market, this will cost you time and money; because, as home values decline, usually your price reductions will still be higher than the market value. Even if you are able to price your home correctly, there is a lot to do after you've accepted an offer. Many sellers think this is the end of the process, but it's only the beginning.

2. Negotiating Terms

There is more to an offer than price -- and many buyers today are represented by an agent who is trained to negotiate real estate contracts. When do you want to close? What is included in the sale? What problems will the inspection uncover? Even if the buyers are not represented, many are educated about the market.

3. Mortgages

Many deals today are impacted by stricter lending standards. If a buyer is unqualified, it will cost you time and money. Many real estate agents are teaming up with mortgage professionals who will be walking the buyer through the process, and making sure that the buyer is qualified to purchase your home.

4. Security

You are careful to put locks on your doors and maybe an alarm system in your house to protect you and your family. Yet, you advertise your home and make your phone number available, so complete strangers can arrange to visit your property. An experienced agent can be a buffer between you and potential buyers.

5. You Already Have a Job

Real estate sales is a full-time job, that's why there are full-time agents. You need to be careful about legal issues, and you will have to do the negotiations, coordinate the showings, closing, inspections, appraisals, paperwork, etc.

Selling a home can be stressful for the seller. It is difficult enough to prepare your home for sale and keep it clean and neat for showings; let a real estate professional handle the rest.

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Beacon Hill Colony: A Unique Corner of Port Washington

Beacon Hill Colony, at 75 West Shore Road, is a small waterfront community of exactly 41 houses, where each homeowner owns their home under a proprietary lease and has one share of stock in a corporation. It is a unique arrangement - each individual is responsible for his or her home, but it has elements of a cooperative. For example, prospective buyers have to be approved by the board of directors of the Beacon Hill Bungalow Corporation. The corporation is managed by seven members elected by the shareholders.



It began decades ago as a group of squatters in tents, becoming primitive summer bungalows, and eventually turning into year-round residences. On the Beacon Hill Colony website, you can read personal histories of the fond memories the summer vacationers had - spending the entire season in a bathing suit, and forming lifelong friendships. The community still seems to be very close knit.





There are several homes for sale in the Colony, all with beach, dock, and mooring rights and beautiful views. The location is wonderful, with an isolated feel, yet close to town, the railroad, highways, shopping, etc. Financing is challenging here, so be sure to speak to an agent that is familiar with the area if you are interested in buying. Visit the Beacon Hill Colony website for more information.

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Gold Coast Chiropractic Celebrates New Location in Port Washington!

Announcement from Dr. Ronny Bergman, Port Washington, NY

Dr. Ronny Bergman, founder and director of Gold Coast Chiropractic, has moved to a new state-of-the-art facility located on Inspiration Wharf at 405 Main Street. "Dr. Ronny" started his practice in 2006 in the Stop & Shop Plaza and it quickly grew with success stories and many appreciative patients. His patients range from 6 months to 98 years of age, and he likes to think of each and every one of them as his extended family.

In 2005, Dr. Bergman wrote a vision statement outlining the future of Gold Coast Chiropractic. The first line was “I envision a family filled chiropractic wellness practice situated in Port Washington, NY on the west side of town on Inspiration Wharf.” Now that vision is a reality!

Both adults and children can benefit from Dr. Bergman's expertise. Some common complaints from adult patients seeking chiropractic care include: neck pain or back pain, headache, allergies, sports injuries, sinus problems, frequent infections, and high stress levels, which responds well to treatment. Children are brought in for complaints such as chronic ear infections, throat infections, chronic sinus problems, ADHD and bed-wetting.

Gold Coast Chiropractic utilizes multiple therapeutic approaches to improve patient health. They offer chiropractic adjustments, exercise consultation, and nutrition. Specific exercise routines are created to strengthen certain muscles which will help to stabilize the spine and make muscles strong to hold their adjustment. Basic nutrition programs are designed with a patient’s specific needs in mind, addressing eating habits and nutritional supplementation.

One of the diagnostic tools Dr. Bergman uses to assess a patient’s health is a diagnostic computer scan called a Surface EMG or Surface Electromyography. “The EMG allows us to see the function of the nervous system and where your body might not be functioning correctly.” The Surface EMG is one of the latest pieces of diagnostic equipment to come out in the recent years. “I find it’s probably the most beneficial in determining the health of the nervous system,” Dr. Bergman says.

The time it takes for a patient to notice any improvement varies from person to person. “It depends on the chronicity of the problem, meaning the longer the problem has been there the longer it takes sometimes to correct it. The more acute or the shorter period of time that person has the problem usually the quicker it responds to care. Children usually respond very quickly to care because they’re so young and they’re very, very resilient,”

Dr. Bergman believes that the key to spinal health is prevention, by listening to your body's warning signals and adjusting your lifestyle and daily activities accordingly. If you experience pain for more than one or two days despite taking preventative measures, contacting a chiropractor is recommended. They can identify the cause of the problem and adjust or manipulate the spine to promote the body's natural healing process.

Gold Coast Chiropractic is a wonderful addition to the other health and wellness businesses on Inspiration Wharf. Dr. Ronny Bergman invites you to come in and visit. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 516-944-4300 or visit the Gold Coast Chiropractic or Dr. Ronny Bergman websites.

Dr. Bergman is a member of the Cow Bay Business Network. See my other articles about members Mitch Schwartz and Dr. Doron Keren. Please feel free to comment on this post, or send me an e-mail.